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Living large is becoming a relic of the past

Kelly Sharp Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Good news: The U.S. housing market will continue to thrive regardless of the economy. The homebuilder market has been growing from an amended economy, supporting housing market and rising confidence. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) discovered that builder confidence for new single-family homes has risen to its highest level since 2005 according to The Wall Street Journal.

Relationships bring results for interior design industry partners

Fred Berns Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

If your challenge is to increase your business with interior design professionals, here's your solution: teach them how to sell your stuff. Been there, done that, you say. After all, your sales reps talk and text and tweet with designers all the time. And you put on those training events. And you show up at the right social events.

What’s the top luxury purchase these days? Time

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Buying time is the latest trend in luxury. It's one thing wealthy consumers can't get enough of. Constantly on the go with jam-packed schedules, they are willing to pay a premium for products and services that will add a few extra minutes to their busy days.

Safeguard your designs to avoid theft, lawsuit

Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Whether it's vetting a design concept or solving problems on site, design projects take teamwork and team thinking. Many individuals may contribute to the final design and implementation. At the end of the day, though, it should be clear to all involved who owns the project and the rights to all concepts, sketches, renderings, presentation boards, photographs, etc.

Millennials squeezed out of housing market

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

This was supposed to be the year when millennials threw off their chains of dependence and flocked to the housing market. Instead, more millennials now are living with their families than at the height of the Great Recession, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center.

Construction contracts: It’s better to be friendly, fair

Nate Budde Construction & Building Materials

Construction contracts can be long and complicated documents, and form the basis of the relationships between the signing parties. Generally speaking, parties at the top of the contracting chain have more leverage, and can use their contracts to shift financial risk down the contracting chain. Despite the ability to shift this financial risk, and the real and worthwhile desire of all companies to protect themselves, it makes more sense over the long run, and in terms of building repeatable and lucrative relationships, to contract fairly.

Bucking the trends: What homeowners really want

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

As the year began, kitchen and bath trend forecasters made their pronouncements about what changes we should expect to see in 2015. Now that we are more than halfway through the year and heading into the fall design and remodeling season, are those trends indeed trending? There were some hits and some misses. If one were to choose one word that describes what the majority of homeowners want, it would be "pragmatic." Style matters, but function rules.

‘YOU-SPs’ and lead stories distinguish designers

Fred Berns Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Do the people you need to know…know you? Do they know all that you do? All that you can do? When they need the kind of interior design services and products that you sell, do they absolutely, automatically contact you? If not, that means that they don't "get" what you have. And if they don't get that, you don't get their business.

Literary landmarks: Inside the homes of famous writers

Dave G. Houser Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

According to a recent report from the Pew Research Center, some 76 percent of American adults said they read at least one book in the past year. Furthermore, 21 percent claimed to have read 10 or more books. The latter demographic really grabbed our attention, suggesting there are millions of avid bookworms out there — literary enthusiasts who we figure to be prime candidates for visiting the homes of famous writers.

As job market heats up, versatile designers are in demand

Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

There has not been a better time in the past four or five years to be looking for an interior design job. Within the past six months, job listings have jumped from the dozens to the hundreds. Business is on the rise in A&D firms. Many that had to let employees go during the lean years are staffing up again. Architects are taking on more new projects, and that is opening up opportunities for interior designers.

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